Improvement in saddle-stirrups



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW IRION, OF FEMME OSAGE, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN SADDLE-STIRRUPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,007, dated September 19, 1865.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW IEIoN, of Femme Osage, county of St. Charles, and State of Missouri, have invented a new Saddle-Stirrup; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereot', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, in which- Figure lis an elevation of one of the improved stirrups with all its parts closed together as it should appear when the same is in use. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the stirrup open at the top. Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofthe bottom ot' the stirrup, showing all the parts therein and their several uses.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The different parts of the stirrup are so arranged that while the rider is firmly seated in the saddle, with his feet pressing on the bottorn of the stirrup, the same will remain closed in its usual position, as in Fig. l; but should a spirited horse take fright and throw its rider, one of the sides ot' the stirrup will instantly become released and the stirrup open outward, so that it will be an impossibility for the riders feet to become fastened to the stirrup in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb of the rider.

The two side pieces ofthe stirrnp, A A, are ot' the usual conformation, and are connected together at the bottom by the hinge-joint a, and at the upper end by simply butting together at the joint b, with the exception of the dowel e, which enters a suitable cavity in the side piece, A, and prevents a sidewise move- The bottom piece, B, is atrough-shaped piece of metal fastened by a hinge to the side piece, A, at the joint d, and partially covering the joint a when all the parts of the stirrup are in the position they occupy when in use. There is a stiff spring, h, fastened to the side piece, A, by the rivet V. There is a stub-piece, W, fastened to the side piece, A, in such a position that when the two sides of the stirrup are closed at the top the spring It will press hard upon it and hold the stirrup closed in its proper position for use. In addition to this device for holding the two sides of the stirrup in their proper position, there is a steel lug, X, fastened to piece A in such a manner that one of its ends will extend over the joint a when the two side pieces of the stirrup are closed together at the joint V. The end of the lng X which extends over the joint a, is bent upward until it terminates abruptly against the under side ot' the foot-piece B, which rests upon it with the superincumbent weight ofthe rider. This weight pressing on the end of the lug X, it becomes a lever, acting over the fulcrum formed by the pivot a, and the result of the acting forces is to throw the side A up rmly against the piece A at the joint b, Where it must remain so long as the foot of the rider presses on the piece B; but as soon as the riders foot is raised oft' from the piece B and presses against one of the sides ofthe stirrup the several parts will become disengaged and the foot of the rider freed' from any restraint.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

l. A stirrup made in two separate parts ANDREW IRION.

In presence of- GEO. M. FIGHTENKAM, GEO. B. KELLOGG. 

